Liberal MPs are growing 'exceptionally uncomfortable' with Opposition Leader Angus Taylor's apparent strategy to compete with or outflank One Nation, according to a party source. The unease follows Taylor's repeated refusal to say whether he supports multiculturalism during a press conference on Tuesday, leaving colleagues dumbfounded and questioning his approach.
Taylor's Non-Answers Spark Concern
In a press conference on Tuesday, Taylor sidestepped questions about his views on multiculturalism, claiming 'there's all these vague words running around' before asking a reporter: 'Do you want to define it for me?' The line of questioning was prompted by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's declaration last week that Australia 'cannot be a multicultural society' and must be 'monocultural.'
Taylor's responses were met with surprise and concern from some Liberal colleagues, who saw Hanson's 'monoculture' claim as crossing a red line and gifting the Coalition a clear opportunity to differentiate themselves from One Nation's agenda. 'Nobody knows what monoculture means and it won't resonate,' one Liberal MP said. 'The fact he [Taylor] didn't have any answer struck a bit of a confidence blow. Instead of capitalising on [Hanson's] errors, he is just tip-toeing.'
Internal Party Reactions
Senior Liberals lined up on Wednesday to endorse Australia's cultural diversity. Outspoken backbencher Andrew McLachlan challenged Taylor to 'embrace the reality of modern Australia,' calling it 'a prerequisite of a leader to fight for the aspirations of each and every member of our community.' Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Ted O'Brien dismissed the debate over monoculture as 'a silly one,' questioning who decides who belongs to it. 'The thought that Johnny, who's at work speaking English, can't go home and speak Italian to his nonna, that's nuts,' he told the National Press Club.
Deputy Liberal Leader Jane Hume said she rejects 'the policy of cultural fear from the right' and acknowledged that Australia is already a multicultural society. Senator Maria Kovacic, the daughter of Croatian migrants, described Australia as 'a beautiful multicultural society' built on the backs of many different migrants over the past 200 years. Anne Ruston stated that Australia was 'built on multiculturalism.'
Taylor's Clarification and Strategy
In a statement late on Tuesday, Taylor indicated he does support multiculturalism in some form, saying: 'I believe in an Australia where everyone respects our laws, shares our values and contributes to the fabric of our country. That is the type of multiculturalism that we believe in. We reject Labor's multiculturalism, which sees different people held to different standards because of their cultural background.' The statement mirrors new 'talking points' issued to Liberal MPs to help them respond to media questions on the subject.
Labor Treasurer Jim Chalmers ridiculed Taylor's comments in parliament, claiming: 'One of the reasons why the Liberal party is dying in [Taylor's] arms is because his efforts to out-One Nation One Nation are becoming increasingly pathetic.'
Influence of Tony Abbott
Some Liberals suspect Taylor's equivocation on multiculturalism is partly influenced by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who issued a tacit endorsement of Hanson's position in a Sky News interview. Abbott said: 'Australia has a core Anglo-Celtic culture. We have a foundational Judeo-Christian ethos that should never change.' McLachlan declared Abbott's comments 'unhelpful and deny the realities of modern Australia,' adding that Abbott 'should focus on building our campaign capability and organisational strength. Not trying to build a Tardis to take us to a time and place that never was.'
Liberal MP Garth Hamilton challenged Hanson to explain how a 'monoculture' would be enforced, asking: 'Is a bulldozer going to be driven through Chinatown? Can I run a kebab shop? Can I go to the Paniyiri festival? When the Russian ballet comes out, can I go watch that? I know this sounds ridiculous. Answer these freaking questions, Pauline. We've never been a monoculture.'
The internal party disquiet highlights growing tensions over Taylor's leadership and the Coalition's positioning relative to One Nation on issues of immigration and cultural identity.
